A Perfectly Good Dog

I was recently watching television when a commercial came on, asking viewers to support the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Throughout the piece, numerous animals were pictured; dogs and cats of every age, size and breed imaginable. It occurred to me what a shame it is that so many people don’t realize that there are plenty of “perfectly good” pets in shelters that are in need of good homes. Of course, many people do donate to the ASPCA and as a result, the organization is able to do lots of great work, providing medical care, food, and housing as well as many other services to help homeless, neglected, or abused animals.

However, in spite of all the progress the ASPCA and other shelters do make, the fact is that there are literally millions of “perfectly good” animals euthanized each year, simply due to overpopulation.

All of this reminded me of a book I read a few years back. “A Perfectly Good Dog: Stories From the Heart,” by Grace Saalsaa. The author, an avid dog rescue volunteer, put together a volume of short stories about many of the animals she has rescued over the years. The book, which is poignantly accurate in its telling of what it’s like to be involved with rescue, is sure to many any reader laugh, cry, feel angry, sad and elated all in one sitting.

As a dog trainer for more than 15 years, I’ve often had the opportunity to converse with people about what made them decide where to get their pet. While many do adopt from shelters or rescue groups, many others choose to purchase a puppy from a breeder. Surprisingly, many who purchase their pups do so because of their own fears about adoption. Some of these fears include worry that the dog will have behavior problems due to previous abuse or neglect, fear that the dog must grow up with their kids from a very young age otherwise it won’t like kids, and many more.

The fact is, a pet from a shelter is no more likely to need training than a puppy from a litter. In fact, you can bet your bottom dollar that every single young puppy will require extensive training, ranging from house training to play biting, from proper socialization to obedience, and more. In contrast, an older dog from a shelter or rescue is likely already house trained and possibly obedience trained as well. Often, rescue volunteers and shelter staff are familiar with the dog’s personality and can help make a good match (likes kids, gets along with cats, etc.). If your heart is set on a young puppy, no doubt you will have plenty to choose from too.

Adding a new pet of any kind to your family is a big decision and all aspects should be considered before deciding. Hopefully, with the above information, more people will realize that there are plenty of “perfectly good” pets available at shelters that you can bring into your family while helping an animal at the same time.